Time stands still for Rabindranath Tagore Museum, stagnant development till date

Time stands still for Rabindranath Tagore Museum, stagnant development till date 

MUKESH KALIMPONG, May 03: Weary with time the 1st and the oldest Rabindranath Tagore Museum located at Mungpoo, today stands silently being nothing more than a spectator to the changing times. The beautiful moments spent by the renowned poet during his 4 stay-overs in this place including his birthday celebrations with the locals of Mungpoo in the May of 1940 has somewhere lost in time. Developments took place, the political scenario of the hills changed drastically, but what remains constant is the stagnated condition of the museum. Time does not seem to be moving for this place. Now this oldest museum itself has become an antique piece which needs to be housed inside another museum. In recent times, this Museum which falls under the Cinchona Jurisdiction in not at all remembered by the State Government except during his birth or death anniversaries. It is a shame to the State and a dishonor to Tagore that this heritage place still lacks electricity supply. 

The locals of the area have repeatedly appealed the Government to renovate the museum. But it seems that their pleas have fallen into deaf ears. The West Bengal Development Minister, Gautam Deb during Tagore’s birthday last year was witnessed assuring the public of providing electricity at the museum as soon as possible. He had also promised to deploy a guard for the museum’s security. But the promises and assurances have gone with the wind for till date no such facilities are being enjoyed by the museum. This has now become a topic of inquisitiveness for the locals of the area for they frequently wonder the reason behind this shortfall. The Chief Minister Mamata Banerji during Tagore’s birth anniversary celebrations last May in Thakurbari situated at Jorasan had declared that all the museums related with Tagore will be provided high security, but it seems like this particular museum was not at all included in her declaration. The locals complain that the State Government sees this heritage place as a simple tourism spot. Further, they say that if the Government is least interested in taking care of the museum then they do not have any right to organize programmes in the area too. In one hand Tagore’s dairies hold high value all around the world, but in the other the writings of Tagore and the paintings made by him lay in this museum without any proper security. Yet again the Information and Culture Department has remembered the museum since Tagore’s birth anniversary is nearing. But the locals criticize that this is just a formality to build up a smooth relationship between the public of the hills and the plains.